This presentation highlights the IRTS program’s structure and key outcomes while exploring the essential role of Peer Support Specialists in driving recovery and connection. Through data-informed insights, we celebrate Peer Support Specialists as the unsung heroes of community mental health.

Katie Honovich has worked in the behavioral health field since 2006, beginning her career with a focus on substance use disorders. Over the years, her clinical experience has spanned the full continuum of care —including inpatient, outpatient, community-based, and acute partial hospitalization programs —serving individuals with both mental health and substance use needs. Since joining Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care (UBHC) in 2013, Katie has held multiple leadership roles and currently serves as the Program Director in the Community-Based Services Department. As an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS), she is dedicated to mentoring emerging professionals, guiding them toward licensure, and fostering their growth within the field. Katie’s professional interests include working with forensic populations and individuals with personality disorders. She is deeply committed to reducing stigma, promoting recovery, and empowering the next generation of community mental health professionals.

Register for the seminar: https://go.rutgers.edu/66m0mmkq